Redding, California — Redding may lose its service to Southern California. Currently, Avero Airlines serves Burbank three days a week, but that service is also at risk.
Jared Culver, general manager of Trego Dugan Aviation in Reading, sounded the alarm during the board of supervisors meeting.
“I feel like we need to pay a little more attention to the air service issue here,” Culver said, “and I hope the board will take an interest in the air service issue and give their input. I would like to remind the board that what happens in Reading doesn’t just affect us here in Reading, it affects the entire region.”
Trego Dugan works as a ground staff member at Avero, responsible for boarding passengers and loading baggage.
Culver told KRCR that Avero is profitable, but the company is exiting.
“It’s not about the airline. The airline is very committed to Redding and Avero loves Redding,” Culver said. “It’s just the ground staff, the people on the ground in Redding handling the aircraft and serving the customers.”
SkyWest is also a ground handling company at Redding Regional Airport, but its fees are high and there are no reports of interest from the company at this time.
“If they can’t find ground crew in Reading, I think Avero will unfortunately cease service,” Culver continued, “There is a date set for that, and unfortunately I don’t want to give too much away and get the wrong idea, but the date that has been given is August 26th, and that will be the last scheduled flight out of Reading.”
Supervisors agreed to put the issue on the agenda for their second meeting in July.
The committee also unanimously expressed no interest in implementing a 1% sales tax on the construction, maintenance and operation of new prison facilities.
A two-thirds majority is needed to pass the bill.
“My personal view is that this particular item, if it were put before the voters, would basically be doomed from the get-go,” Supervisor Mary Rickert said.
“It’s very difficult for me to support an additional tax,” Supervisor Patrick Jones said.
“I don’t think there’s any chance this bill will actually pass,” Supervisor Kevin Cly said.
Of the roughly 900 people who responded to an unscientific Facebook poll conducted by incoming Supervisor Matt Plummer, 46% were opposed and fewer than 30% said they supported raising taxes.
